Isla woke up the next morning with a heavy weight on her chest. The events of the night before swirled in her mind, making it impossible to get any restful sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, Jin Woo's voice echoed in her ears, reminding her of their conversation in the café. It was a conversation that changed everything, whether she wanted it to or not.
She dragged herself out of bed, glancing at her phone to check the time. A few missed messages from colleagues and friends lit up her screen, but nothing from Jin Woo. She wasn't sure if that was a relief or a disappointment.
Her morning routine felt mechanical—coffee, shower, dress—yet her mind was elsewhere. What was she supposed to do now? How was she supposed to act around Jin Woo after what they had said to each other? She had built her entire career around competition, around winning, and now, here she was, tangled up in something she couldn't control.
By the time she arrived at the office, her nerves were frazzled, and she found herself glancing around for any sign of him. Her stomach twisted with anticipation and dread, knowing they'd have to face each other sooner or later. The question was, how would they handle it?
The day dragged on as she tried to focus on the project at hand, but every time someone called her name or asked for her input, she snapped back into the present, feeling flustered and distracted.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the meeting arrived—the one Isla had been dreading all day. It was a strategy session for their latest project, and both she and Jin Woo would be in the room. There was no avoiding him now.
She took a deep breath as she stepped into the conference room, her heart racing as she spotted Jin Woo already seated at the table. His eyes flicked up to meet hers for a brief moment, and her breath caught in her throat. The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, the memory of last night hanging in the space between them.
Isla forced herself to sit down, determined to keep things professional. This was work. Whatever was going on between them would have to be dealt with later—outside the office. She couldn't let her feelings interfere with her career. Not now. Not ever.
As the meeting began, Isla did her best to stay focused, listening as her colleagues discussed the new marketing strategy. But every time Jin Woo spoke, she found her gaze drifting toward him, watching the way he moved, the way his eyes scanned the room. She could still feel the warmth of his hand on hers from the night before, the quiet sincerity in his voice when he had told her he was scared too.
Her thoughts were interrupted when her manager turned to her, asking for her opinion on the proposed plan. Isla blinked, her mind scrambling to catch up.
"Um… yes," she stammered, trying to piece together the fragments of the conversation she had half-heard. "I think the strategy could work, but we should probably refine the timeline a bit more."
The manager nodded, seeming satisfied with her response, but Isla could feel Jin Woo's eyes on her, watching her closely. She didn't dare look back at him, afraid of what she might see in his expression.
As the meeting continued, the tension only grew. Every time she caught a glimpse of Jin Woo, her heart raced a little faster, and her thoughts spiraled out of control. It was like she was trapped in a never-ending loop, unable to break free from the pull he had on her.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the meeting came to an end, and everyone began to file out of the room. Isla stood up, gathering her notes, her mind still reeling. She needed space—time to think. But just as she was about to make her escape, a voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Isla, wait."
Her heart skipped a beat as she turned around to find Jin Woo standing behind her, his expression serious. The room had emptied out, leaving the two of them alone in the quiet conference room.
"Can we talk?" he asked, his voice low, almost hesitant.
Isla hesitated, glancing at the door, her instinct to run overwhelming. But there was no escaping this, was there? She had to face it, face him.
She nodded, her throat tight. "Okay."
Jin Woo walked closer, his presence overwhelming in the small space. "I've been thinking about last night," he began, his gaze locking onto hers. "I know we didn't figure anything out, but I need to know… where do we go from here?"
Isla swallowed hard, the weight of his question pressing down on her. She didn't know where to go. She didn't have the answers. All she knew was that everything between them was a mess—complicated and confusing and utterly terrifying.
"I don't know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don't know how to do this."
Jin Woo's expression softened, and he stepped closer, his eyes filled with a mixture of frustration and something else—something deeper. "Neither do I. But we can't keep pretending this isn't happening."
Isla closed her eyes, her heart aching. "I don't know if I can do this. We're supposed to be rivals. How do we just… ignore that?"
Jin Woo let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. "We can't ignore it. But maybe we don't have to let it define us."
His words hung in the air, and Isla felt a flicker of something—hope, maybe? Could they really find a way through this? Could they navigate the mess of their feelings without losing themselves in the process?
"I don't want to lose everything I've worked for," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I've spent my whole life fighting for this."
"I know," Jin Woo said quietly. "But so have I. We're both fighting for the same thing."
Isla looked up at him, her chest tightening. "Then how do we fix this?"
Jin Woo met her gaze, his eyes filled with determination. "We don't have to fix it all at once. But we can figure it out together. One step at a time."
Isla felt her heart squeeze at his words, the sincerity in his voice cutting through the fear and uncertainty. She didn't have all the answers, but maybe, just maybe, they could figure them out together.
Slowly, Isla nodded, a tentative smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Okay," she said softly. "One step at a time."
Jin Woo smiled back, and for the first time in days, Isla felt a sense of relief wash over her. The road ahead was still uncertain, but at least they weren't facing it alone.